How Long Is Too Long For A Commute?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Commutes longer than

45 minutes

are up 12 percent in that time span, and 90-minute one-way commutes are 64 percent more common than in 1990. The longer your commute, the less time you have for family, friends, exercise and nutrition—and it’s awful for your mental state.

How long of a commute is too long of a commute?

The average U.S. commute to work of 26.1 minutes each way looks like a quick trip around the block compared to the travel times posted by extreme commuters. The U.S. Census Bureau defines extreme commuters as workers who travel

90 minutes or more

each way to work.

How long should your daily commute be?

That’s why our strongest recommendation is to make the time to commute, even when you are working at home. A “virtual” commute, so to speak. Put

15 to 30 minutes

on your calendar at the start and end of your workday to make a cognitive, emotional, and spiritual passage from home to work and back again.

How long is a bearable commute?

Despite how you might feel about rush hour traffic or packed tram carriages, you enjoy what an international study has determined as the commuter “inflection point” of roughly

45 minutes

. Commutes of longer than that eventually become unbearable, the research suggests.

Is it worth commuting 1 hour to work?

Just how bad is a commute on job satisfaction? A study by the University of West England found that

adding 20 minutes to your daily commute has the same negative effect on job satisfaction as receiving a 19 percent pay cut

. In fact, every extra minute commuting lowered satisfaction with their job and leisure time.

Should I take a job with a long commute?


A good rule of thumb in deciding if the commute will kill the new job opportunity is to actually do it

. You may save this test for a point further along in the hiring process – say, for an interview. Just make sure you do it on a day you would be commuting into the office, around the time you would be traveling.

How far should you live from work?


Thirty minutes at most

, according to the wisdom of the crowds. That comes from reams of data and piles of research that suggests commute times tend to cluster around this point. People tend to be good at weighing their options, economists think.

How much of a pay increase is worth a longer commute?

With your additional commute, you are getting paid roughly the same amount or less (with the additional wear and tear of your vehicle). It wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that it would need a

20–25%

increase in pay to start making money.

How long is the average commute to work UK?

What is the average commute time? According to a study by the TUC, the average time spent travelling to and from work in the UK is

59 minutes per day

.

Can commuting cause depression?


Longer commuting time is associated with higher probability of depression

. Traffic delay, not uncongested travel time, is associated with depression. Commuters using formal transit have lower probability of depression than drivers. Poor access to transit is associated with higher probability of depression.

How do you manage a long commute?

  1. Leave for work early.
  2. Create a relaxing environment.
  3. Be strategic.
  4. Try public transportation or carpooling.
  5. Pack food and beverages.
  6. Limit technology.
  7. Determine your job satisfaction.

Is commuting a waste of time?

Every year, commuting motorists spend about 42 hours stuck in traffic.

Idling and stop-and-go traffic wastes 19 gallons of gasoline per commuter per year

. Traffic delays costs commuters about $960 a year, which adds up to $38,400 over a 40-year career.

How can I improve my commute?

  1. Listen to Podcasts. …
  2. Discover New Music. …
  3. Practice Self Care. …
  4. Leave Earlier So You Can Slow Down. …
  5. Check in With Your Work Progress. …
  6. Mix Up Your Route Once in a While. …
  7. Brainstorm Solutions to Your Problems. …
  8. Sit in Silence.

Is 30 minutes too far to drive to work?

Once you get more than 30 minutes away from your job, no matter how you actually come into work, it starts to feel like a chore. You begin to hate the commute. Doesn’t matter if you drive, take a train, walk, etc.

30 minutes, one-way, is our max!

How long is an unbearable commute family Feud?

Answer # of Responses
1 hour

41
30 minutes 26 45 minutes 15 20 minutes 6

Is commuting bad for your health?

Research has linked long commutes to a host of negative health impacts, from

increased stress and poorer cardiovascular health to greater pollution exposure

.

How do you think you could save money if you have a long commute to work?

  1. Avoid left turns, which waste gas while you idle and wait to turn across traffic. …
  2. Maintain your car. …
  3. Reduce weight in the car. …
  4. Avoid rush-hour traffic. …
  5. If both spouses drive to work in separate cars, use the more fuel-efficient one for the longest commute.

Why is commuting so tiring?

One reason commutes are so stressful, economists say, is the

unpredictability and lack of control

. Not only are you spending lots of time in your car, but you’re also facing stress when you hit a traffic jam and worry that you’ll be late for work or to pick up your kid.

What is normal commuting distance?

There is no rigid measure of distance which constitutes a normal commuting distance or normal commuting area, because there may be widely varying factual circumstances among different areas (e.g., normal commuting distances might be

20, 30, or 50 miles

). Consumer Credit Protection Act, (CCPA)

Should I get a job closer to home?

Working close to home obviously brings a great many advantages along with it. StepStone lists them for you:

Saving time is the most important factor

. You will have much more time for your private life, given that you will spend fewer hours in your car; and this often goes together with having much less stress.

Should I take a job closer to home?

If your time, energy and sanity seem more valuable than those minutes spent in the car, you could consider moving closer to your workspace or negotiating work from home days to reduce that lost time. Alternatively, you could find a different position closer to your home even if it means taking a slight pay cut.

Should I take a job closer to home for less money?

Traditionally, job changes involve an increase in salary. But there may be times when accepting a job that pays less makes sense.

Working closer to home for a lower salary often has advantages over commuting a greater distance for more money.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.